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"Everything is yes, yes, yes. If you're a client, you get what you want," said senior Adam Linet, who has been working as a waiter for catering companies since his freshman year.
Go to any restaurant in the area and many of the people waiting on you will be college students making extra money, but there are also students whose work resembles this trade.
Students who work for catering companies don't have regular hours. And in Washington, which is known as one of the highest paying cities for caterers, they can get an hourly wage of $18 to $25. Furthermore, unlike restaurant waiters, catering waiters are not the main event - they are in the background, and do not have to work for tips.
Linet is working two catering jobs this month and already has five scheduled for February. He has worked for a variety of catering companies during his time at GW, including 3Citron, Dish, Mindy's and Shindig. He also contracts himself out as an independent caterer.
To be a student who is also a caterer, you have to be personable, smile a lot, and know how to balance working on a moment's notice or scheduling events for three months from now, Linet said.
On Saturday night, Linet was a bartender for a 1920s flapper-themed event thrown by 3Citron at the National Building Museum. Before the event started, chefs were preparing trays in the back and Linet was slicing limes and lemons. Behind the scenes things were at full speed, but the guests would never know it. Five out of the 25-person wait staff were GW students.
"Students do well as waiters for catered events like this because they have a willingness to learn and it's very flexible," said Lyn Holland, the personnel manager of 3Citron. "They can work when they want to and they can learn about small businesses, event planning, food, wine, logistics."
